Wheat-grading machine



(N0 Model.)

S. POTTS.

WHEAT GRADING MACHINE.

. m Patented Nov. 1, 1881., 0 O i E i E i lf-H ti HI I g Ti a 513 N. PETERS, PMXo-Lllhngnpher. Wnhingwn. n A;

SAMUEL IOTTS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

WHEAT-GRADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,880, dated November 1, 1881.

Application filed January 17, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL Forms, of Minneapoli's, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Grading Wheat and other Grains, of which the followlng is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for separating wheat and other grains into grades according to sizes and weight; and it consistsin a double series of perforated inclined tables or screens adapted to be vibrated in uniformly a line parallel with the flow of the grain, and in the manner of arranging and operating them, as hereinafter set forth.

The invention further consists in the construction of a knocker arranged to strike the vibrating screens to remove the dust, chaff, 850., as hereinaftersetforth. I accomplish these results by the use of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure Iis asectional elevation. Fig; II is an end elevation. Fig. III is a detached portion of the frame and screens, showing the manner of suspending the latter. Fig.1Visaplan view of the ends of the machine, with the central portion broken out; Fig. V, a detached view of the endof the feed hopper, showing the manner of adjusting it; Fig. VI, views of portions of the perforated inclined shakers, showing the variations in the sizes of the perforations.

A is the frame, in which are suspended by springs atwo trough-shaped upright plates, B B, extending across the machine near either end.

0 C are a series of diamond-shaped plates connected to the ends of the upright plates B B, and provided with cross-bars D at equal distances apart, by which the apexes of the plates 0 are connected to those of plates 0, as shown in Fig. I.

E are frames covered with plates ofperforated iron, and adapted to fill the spaces between the cross-bars D and plates 0 C,and running down nearly to the plates B B, while similar frames,F,covered with sheet-iron, are arranged to -fill the spaces between the lower edges of the frames E and plates 0 O, and running down nearlyto the next cross-barD,as shown, each set of diamond-shaped pieces 0 0, crossbar D, and frames E F'thus forming a diamood-shaped box or drum with an outwardlyinclined perforated top, which converts itinto a double-inclined screen, and an inwardly-inclined sheet-iron bottom with an open space, G, at the center, leading to the nextperforated table,whioh converts it into a doubleinclined chute, all in one frame.

Above the upper inclined drum a hopper, H, is mounted upon adjusting-brackets h h, by which it may be set higher or lower to regulate the distance between it and the drum,and provided with hinged sides 0 0, also capable of adjustment to regulate the feed.

1 is a shaft running across the front of the frame A, and provided with frietioirpulley d 61, adapted to act upon eccentrics c 0 upon a' shaft, g, secured in suitable boxes upon the face of the plate B, whereby the plates B B and the diamond-shaped drums are vibrated back and forth in the line of the flow of the grain, the reciprocation being uniform in both directions, and consequently the same for both inclines, a powerful wooden spring, K, being arranged upon the rear of the frame A, and provided with an adjustable screw, 1), to keep the vibratingtables pressed against the eccentrics, and thus insure its vibratory motion.

1 is another shaft, attached to the side of the frame A at right angles to the shaft I, and adapted to be revolved from the latter by a worm-gear, t, and worm-pinion i.

k k are two brackets or hangers pivoted to the lower sides of the upper part of the frame A, and having attached to them springs M M, whose upper parts are bent over and provided with hammers m m, while the lower ends project downward and are adapted to be struck by revolving cams N N on the shaft I, by which means the hammers m mare made to rise and fall with every revolution of the shaft I. The rear parts of the hangers 7c 7e are curved backward and downward and provided with adjustable stops Wklbywhieh the throw of the hammers m m are regulated.

P I are two rods or bars running up alongside of both ends of the diamond-shaped drums, and connected to each of them by straps n a, riveted to the frames E, and passing through slots in the bars P, and secured thereto by nuts or other devices. The upper ends of these bars I? P run up some distance above the upper diamond-shaped drum, and have large headspp, upon which the hammers m m strike, and thus jar or shake the drums and loosen the dust or any grain or chaff that may have become lodged in the perforations at every revolution of the shaft 1.

By making the openings through which the straps n pass through the bars P in the form of slots the latter may be adjusted higher or lower to regulate the force of the blow of the hammers m m.

Spouts R R will be arranged to carry off the grain from the edges of the diamondshaped drums at intervals, as circumstances may determine, and a hopper, T, at the bottom set to carry off the final tailings.

The size of grain ordinarily determines its weight and quality; hence any machine that will separate it into its different sizes will also separate it into its several grades of weight and quality.

The operation of my machine is as follows: The grain is fed into the hopper H, and the sides 0 0 so adjusted that only a thin stream runs out upon the firstpair of perforated plates, down which it passes in a thin layer, and by the vibrations being in a line parallel with the flow of grain and uniformlyin both directions the kernels all arrange themselves in aline parallel with the motion-the larger ends downward-and the perforations in the first drum beingsmaller than the largest kernels, the short kernels will fall through upon the sheet-iron plates F and be delivered upon the next perforated plate, E, while the longkernels will run down over the edges and fall into the spouts R It and are conveyed away.

The firsttwo setsofperforated plates will usually have the same-sized perforations about five thirty-seconds of one inch, as shown in the upper section of Fig. VI-while the next two will be smaller-about nine sixty-fourths of an inchwhile the last one will be about one eighth of an inch, thus enabling me to separate the grain into as many sizes as there are sizesofperforations,it' desired; but, ordinarily, only two or three sizes are necessary, as the difference is so slight.

In the drawings I show a machine arranged for three separations; but by increasing the number of the spouts 1% R as many separations can be made as desired.

I claim a great advantage by vibrating the double-inclineddrumsin the same directions as the flowof the grain and uniformlyin both directions, as bythat means the kernels arrange themselves with theirlongest diametersin lines parallel with the motion and with their heavy ends downward, so that when a short kernel comes opposite a perforation it will be sure to fall through. This is not the case where the vibrations are at right angles to the flow of grain, as in that event the kernels are turned and twisted in all directions, thus preventing its perfect separation and easy flow.

What I claim as new is-- 1. In a separator for grading grain, a series of doubled inclined screens and chutes arranged in one frame and means for reciprocating them uniformly in both directions in the line of the flow of the grain, substantially as set forth.

2. In a separator for grading grain,the combination ofa series of double-inclined screens and chutes arranged in one frame, eccentrics and wheels acting therein so as to reciprocate the screens and chutes, and an adjustable reacting spring for holding in contact the eccentrics, wheels, and frame, whereby the doubleinclined screens and chutes will be uniformly reciprocated in both directionsin the lineof the flow of the grain, substantially as set forth.

3. In a separatorfor grading grain, a series of double-inclined screens and chutes arranged in one frame and reciprocateduniformlyin the direction of the flow of the grain, in combination with a knocker actuated so as to strike the screens by a shaft, which is operated by a connection with the means which reciprocate the screens, whereby as the screens are reciproeated they are automatically shaken by a blow from the knocker, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination,with barP, secured to the frame E by strap a, of'the knocker m, bracket k, cam N, and shaft I, whereby all the screens are shaken by one blow of the hammer, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL POTTS.

Witnesses:

U. N. WoonWAuD, LOUIS FEESER. 

